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Poetry Wrote Over Several Years on Spiritual, Religious, and Devotional Subjects. |
Devotional Poetry My Search I Into the mystic realm, I let my mind take flight, Over stone strewn highways, I search the endless night. I was the Wanderer, Looking for a goal, And the Seeker, Searching for my soul. I walked the roads of idle fancy, Paths of material delight, Stumbling over stones of vain imaginings, In my search for the light. A voice deep within me cried: "Here doesn't lay your goal, Upon these darkened pathways, You'll never find your sou." II Into the mystic realm, Again my mind took flight, Over well traveled highways, I search the misty twilight. I was a Seeer, Seeking an unknown goal, And a Stranger, To my own soul. In this realm of half-light, I strolled the roads of tradition, Picking my way carefully, Through the shadows of superstition. Still from within came the cry: "Not in this realm is your goal, Upon these half-lit pathways, You'll never find your soul" III Into the mystic realm, Again I took flight, And walked the paths, Where God has shed His light. I walked the hallowed highways, Trod by the Prophets of old, Strolled the ancient paths, Strewn with nuggets of pure gold. This is the wondrous realm, Where all paths become one, This is the glorious land, Illuminated by God's sun. Through the Word of God, I have found my soul, In the Messenger for this age, I have found my goal. Poet's Note: ▼ |
Interfaith Forums January 31, 2021 at 8:59pm Interfaith Forums
1
We all agree to disagree,
our differences are few:
a name,
a language,
a religion,
a tone of skin,
or a boundary line.
2
The name by which we call God
doesn't matter,
because each reflects a divine attribute.
3
Our religions are chapters
in the book of God,
that hasn't reached the final chapter.
4
Humanity's similarities
are in our genes:
we are one race.
5
... [Read more] A Month of Daily Prayer and Gratitude January 30, 2021 at 5:28pm A Month of Daily Affirmations
1
Splendour
Baha'u'llah,
I seek your assistance
in finding the splendour of God.
2
Glory
Baha'u'llah,
without God's love
I couldn't see the glory
of your revelation.
3
Beauty
Baha'u'llah,
I need your help
to see the humanity's beauty.
4
Grandeur
Baha'u'llah,
thank you for revealing
the grandeur
of the path of righteousness.
5
Light
Baha'u'llah,
without your... [Read more] Epiphanies February 2, 2021 at 8:07pm 1
Journal Entries
I leave behind
tiny scarlet footprints
on the tear stained murals of my fears.
2
Poetry is Immortal
Poetry isn't dead;
it can't die
as long as humanity lives.
Poetry sleeps
waiting for the race to be reborn.
3
Baha'i Gospel Choir
One spirit they raise
their voices in praise
proclaiming the Glory of God.
4
Justifiable Sins
Justifiable sins
are committed
in the wee hours of the night
when loneliness consumes
inhibitions.
... [Read more] Flowers of Love January 17, 2021 at 3:24pm The Martyrs Rose:
Dedicated to Those Who Gave their Lives
for The Bab and Baha'u'llah
The Martyrs Rose blooms in the Abha Paradise,
its scarlet tipped petals
tinged red with the blood of God's lovers.
Remembering faith's sacrifice
red edged cream petals
glisten in the light
of a new day.
Martyrs in the path of faith
and in the Cause of God,
they ascended into the garden of paradise.
Those who were left behind
must live each day
sacrificing self for the Be... [Read more] Memorial Service: To Ali Akbar Furutan January 16, 2021 at 7:00pm Memorial Service:
To Ali Akbar Furutan
The lover died
serving the Cause of the Beloved,
serving humanity,
and scattering the seeds of unity
Scarlet edged blossoms--
their dual toned petals open to the night,
and their sacred scents warming autumn's chill--
share the water of life
with apricot tinged gladiolus
and green leaf filler
stand in crystal vase
that is setting on a baby grand.
A picture of the ascended
smiles at us from the stage;
on each side of the enlarged ... [Read more] Rejoice in the Bounty of the Lord January 16, 2021 at 6:27pm Rejoice in the Bounty of the Lord
Rejoice in the fruits of God's new creation,
Spread out for humanity,
On the table of God's latest revelation,
The fruits of peace and unity.
Rejoice because a new garden grows in paradise,
Planted by the lamb of sacrifice,
Nourished by the water flowing from God's throne,
And overshadowed by the Tree of Life.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This poem was written in 152 B.E.
... [Read more] Echoes of Creation January 14, 2021 at 7:55pm Echoes of Creation
I
I sing of silence;
of the unformed silence before the Word was spoken;
before its letters were combined
and linked
inseparately to the deed.
This is the song of precreation,
of unformed, unchaotic, inexpressive, lonely nonexistence.
This is the soul rending silence
that preceded the primordial atom;
that preceded God's spoken invocation,
which generated creation's melody.
God--
the uncreated, the unknowable, the preexistent--
pondered the... [Read more] Divine Plan January 8, 2021 at 6:26pm Divine Plan
Atoms of novas disperse
across the interstellar medium
merge with clouds of gas and dust.
Nebula--
in which stars condense and planets grow--
gave birth to systems
prepared to nurture sentient life:
bodies that house nascent souls.
What creatures are these
that risen from the primal ooze
stand awestruck at the sight
of multicolored twinkling lights
spread across the firmament?
Neither gods nor beast,
but having attributes of both
at death their bodies will r... [Read more] The Dance and The Dancer January 7, 2021 at 8:50pm The poem is the dance!
Its metered lines mimic
the rhythmic sway of bodies
answering the drums eternal beat.
The poet is the dancer!
The naked-breasted Isadora,
the leaping shaman circling the fire,
the whirling dervish praising Allah.
The poem is the dance!
Its choreographed stanzas emulate
the longing of voiceless angels
to intone their praise of God.
The poet is the dancer!
Defiant, proud, idyllic metaphor,
repudiating parochial view of God,
and expanding humanity's a... [Read more] One Religion January 6, 2021 at 8:33pm There is one religion in heaven,
It is God's ancient faith,
That was brought to us by His messengers,
Who still speak to us today.
They all set together paradise,
At the round table of unity,
Where the prayer they say is the same one,
For their believers here on Earth.
They weep for humanity,
That segregates the faith of God,
Into sects and religions,
Into believer and infidel.
There is one religion in heaven,
It is God's ancient faith,
That was brought to us by His m... [Read more] 19 More Epiphanies January 16, 2021 at 4:55pm 1
The Interconnection of Life
Smoke from the San Diego forest fires
hide the Muddy Mountains
and irritate Las Vegas throats,
as flames burn
the lungs of Earth.
2
In the pursuit of Self-Knowledge
To achieve my personal view of reality,
I walk barefoot
across the silvers of my idle fancies,
dive naked
into the acid of my fears,
and amputate the limbs
of my vain imaginings.
3
The Scent of Smoke
Permeating the air,
the scent of smoke penetrates
both clothes and h... [Read more] The Fault-line December 31, 2020 at 6:03pm Across nine hundred thousand miles of unexplored territory,
fault-lines converge
on a single point in the known universe.
Quakes,
increasing in intensity
and proximity,
flow across the landscape.
My world view collapses
into a pile of useless rubble,
while the past is consumed
in a conflagration of terror.
Continental plates pull apart--
leave behind a rift valley--
separating yesterday from tomorrow.
I prowl
the bottom of a deep gorge
looking for a path
to salvation.
... [Read more] 19 Epiphanies January 18, 2021 at 10:28pm 1
At Noon
The darkness
of my shadow reveals
the brightness of my light.
2
Humanity's Potential
The depth of our darkness
the blackness of our shadows
Reveals the brightness of our light.
3
Undocumented Data
Future sentiments
Sometimes fluctuating attitudes
Develop Complaints
4
True Religion
True religion is joy,
living each day in God's love,
and praising the Lord with your life.
5
The Armor of God
Prayer by prayer
I put on the armor of... [Read more] The Nineteen Day Fast March 19, 2020 at 7:29pm On the First Day of Fast
Age and medication
prevent fasting from food and drink,
not meditation and prayer.
On the Second Day of Fast
I read a prayer
revealed for the nineteen-day Fast,
and contemplate letting go.
In its essence fasting
is letting go of the desires of the flesh--
such as food and drink--
and holding onto spiritual qualities--
such as faith in God
and forgiveness.
At 73
I am learning to let go
of the prejudices
and fears
that come between me
and t... [Read more] World of the Spirit July 15, 2019 at 9:09pm World of the Sprit
"in the world of the spirit one does not lose what he has gained."
d.a.levy
lose is for the material world
death and taxes
flowers wilt in their vase
death's cold kiss on a tear streaked face
this is matter not spirit
spirit ascends
always rising
spirit isn't in the body
this body is the umbilical cord connecting spirit and matter
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this in Rahmat 159 B.E.
... [Read more] Our Own July 6, 2019 at 5:09pm Our Own
"And they don't speak English. We should take care of our own right here!"
Remark Overheard in a Restaurant
Below all of our diversities:
across the patriotism of nations,
beyond the loyalty of religions,
outside the divergence of languages,
beneath the passions of gender,
and inside the variations of skin tone
on the core of our genome
is the double helix
of our unity.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this in 159 B.E. (August 2002 A.D.). The... [Read more] Chemical Reaction July 4, 2019 at 4:18pm Chemical Reaction
"but if you really want
a revolution
learn how to change
your internal chemistry
then go beyond that"
d.a. levy
spirit reacts
to word and action
to choices made
to choices reevaluated
to fault placed
to fault accepted
all ineluctable
soul responds
in word and deed
to choices made
to choices reevaluated
to fault places
to fault accepted
all unavoidable
vices are overcome
spiritual attributes practiced
virtues acquired
{dropnote:... [Read more] The Season and Civilization: A Metaphor February 24, 2019 at 4:36pm The Seasons and Civilization:
A Metaphor
Spring is a time of new beginnings,
When nature begins a new year,
A time of new births and stronger feelings:
A new age; the judgment day men fear.
Summer is a time of growing,
A time for nature' beauty to mature:
This is the time of empire building,
When a new civilization looks to the future.
Fall and winter--a time of harvesting and dying,
When nature is at its lowest ebb--
Civilization is in decay and awaiting the Prophet'... [Read more] Conversation Between Friends February 23, 2019 at 5:59pm Conversation Between Friends
Isn't the sunrise beautiful today?
The reds,
so soft,
so light,
they appear
almost chalk pink
in their tones.
See how the reds
change the colors of the storm clouds
resting on top
of the mountains.
The clouds
at the farther end of the bank
look like smouldering coals;
embers
waiting to catch fire.
The clouds
at the nearest end of the bank
appear
to be bleeding.
Well,
I must be going now
duty calls.
Thank You,
dear Lord,
f... [Read more] Thoughts on Voices From Wah 'Kon-Tah February 22, 2019 at 8:50pm Thoughts on Voices From Wah 'Kon-Tah
Myths of the Noble Savage
and the Red Devil
combine to create stereotypical ghosts
that Voices From Wah 'Kon-Tah
dispel
To experience the soul of a culture
one must
consume its heart
in small honey coated bits
wrapped in bitter herbs.
Wah 'Koh-Tah--
The Great Mystery--
the life force flowing
through every atom of the planet,
sends visions
to guide and instruct;
visions
that the pen intones
upon the pages of exist... [Read more] The Wayfarers' Journey February 22, 2019 at 11:40am The Wayfarers' Journey
"And further: the stages that mark the wayfarers’ journey from their mortal abode to the heavenly homeland are said to be seven. Some have referred to them as seven valleys, and others, as seven cities. And it is said that until the wayfarer taketh leave of self and traverseth these stages, he shall never attain the ocean of nearness and reunion nor taste of the matchless wine."
Baha'u'llah{footnote:#} The Seven Valleys
Stone on stone fou... [Read more] My Sanctuary: The Writings of Baha'u'llah February 22, 2019 at 10:09pm My Sanctuary:
The Writings of Baha'u'llah
In the words of Baha'u'llah,
I find a fortress safe and strong
where the cares and strife of modern life
neither linger nor belong.
His words inspire my heart to find
the love that hate conceals,
His pen inscribes upon my spirit
the faith that tests reveal.
His verses are my sanctuary
bestowing peace on mind and soul,
His sacred scriptures God's book of laws
to which obedience is my goal.
Healing
Healing ... [Read more] Jonah In The Belly of the Whale and Inside the Ark February 20, 2019 at 7:26pm Jonah
Inside the Belly of the Whale
Averse
to obey God's command
darkness envelop
the being
swallowed by the leviathan
of self.
Stomach acids digest
self's outer layer,
leave,
the inner kernel
on its knees
begging for salvation.
Inside the Ark
Out side a storm of hatred gathers,
To beat against the doors of faith,
As two by two humanity enters,
The Ark of God's Covenant.
Outside a storm of hatred rages
Beating against the doors of faith,
Insi... [Read more] Observation From Ground Zero: A Metaphor February 20, 2019 at 7:12pm Observation From Ground Zero:
A Metaphor
The intensity of the light
was such
that it penetrated
The back of my skull
to illuminate
my soul.
Turning,
to face its devastating beauty,
I stood open mouthed
as the sand
of truth
poured down my throat.
There was no turning back!
The choice was mine!
I could
either curl up in my foxhole
and hide
in the darkness of superstition.
Or
I could walk
naked across the new fabric of reality
and let
the radiation of faith... [Read more] The Cornerstone February 19, 2019 at 10:55pm The Cornerstone
of the Baha'i House of Worship
in Wilmette, Illinois
Cracked;
Rough;
Odd shaped;
Unremarkable;
Unsightly;
Natural unpolished stone.
Love looked within;
Lave saw
The perfectly formed atoms
And subatomic particles,
That composed
The matter of the stone.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this in Jamal 154 B.E. after reading the story of how the cornerstone for the temple was found.
... [Read more] |